Downtown 51 Grille is open for business

The Oakland Press/VAUGHN GURGANIAN.
Douglas Young, owner of Downtown 51, at his newly opened restaurant in downtown Pontiac, pictured Thursday May 2, 2013.

PONTIAC -- You could taste the city's comeback at the grand opening of Downtown 51 Grille this week.

The restaurant, at the southwest corner of North Saginaw and Huron, opened in March in the space formerly occupied by Bo's Smokehouse after an extensive renovation.

The menu follows an eclectic American theme, with dishes such as chicken and waffles and mussels -- "dishes you wouldn't normally find in our area," said Doug Young, who is a partner in the restaurant with his brother Burgess and sister-in-law Laura Young.

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Mayor Leon Jukowski said the new eatery is "another sign that downtown Pontiac is coming back."

More than 60 new businesses, several loft developments and a grocery store have opened downtown in recent years.

"We have increased foot traffic, which means you're going to see more restaurants opening and more retail," Jukowski said. "I think it's proof that the City of Pontiac has turned around. We're back."

Bob Waun, a mortgage banker who's a partner in several downtown buildings, was also at Thursday's grand opening.

He described Downtown 51 Grille as another "spark that lights the fuse" for the area.

Laura Young described the restaurant's decor as comfortable, and said she tried to enhance and work off of the building's architectural details.

Laura's brother-in-law Doug said the restaurant is offering banquets, catering and lunchbox deliveries to service events, offices, parties and more.

Young also operates the Irish Tavern on Elizabeth Lake Road in Waterford Township.

As city officials and business owners mingled at the restaurant's grand opening, City Council President Pro Tem Patrice Waterman remembered a time 30 years ago when downtown was the domain of prostitutes.

Now, the sidewalks are trod by pedestrians young and old, Waterman said.

Downtown 51 Grille is located at 51 N. Saginaw St. in Pontiac. The restaurant can be reached at 248-338-6200. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and is closed on Sundays.